This time of year, it’s hard not to be on an Ariana Grande level of ponytail loyalty. And why shouldn’t we be? To start, it’s hot AF outside and a ponytail offers a two-second solution to getting our hair off our sweaty necks. With longer days and later nights, we’d rather take the extra 20 minutes of sleep and a ponytail than perfectly blown out waves, thank you very much.
But the classic go-to style for post-workout brunch, time-starved mornings, and sweltering afternoons doesn’t have to signal defeat. Hollywood stylists are serving up ponytails with a little something unexpected, making the look feel more deliberate and event-ready than ever. See how an extra twist, accessory, or tease can take an average pony to new heights. Get ready to make everyone’s favourite lazy-girl style look anything but, ahead.
Stylist Rod Ortega nailed a classic-meets-cool pony on Amal Clooney by pumping the roots with volume, then pulling out face-framing layers in a deep side part.
Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images.Stylist Mara Roszak turned Emma Stone's Met Gala ponytail into a chic faux lob. After styling loose, old-Hollywood S-waves, gather your hair into a low pony that rests on one shoulder. Pull the hair gently out of the elastic to emphasis the “S” shape.
Turn a classic ponytail into a statement look by using a large barrette to clip the ends to the back of the head, like stylist Adir Abergel did here for Reese Witherspoon.
Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images.Stylist Larry Sims gave Gabrielle Union equal parts volume and control with a sleek centre part and low ponytail wrapped to reveal her gorgeous curls.
For those who can’t decide between a braid or a ponytail, stylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew offers this hybrid solution: Braid hair to just above the nape of the neck, then tie it into a ponytail. Let the braids on the sides hang loose to up the cool factor.
Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images.A standard pony gets new life, thanks to a few inches of hair wrapping that’s pinned close to the scalp, as seen in this look by Abergel.
Say hello to our new inspo for wavy post workout, pre-brunch hair. Our gameplan: Create a similar look to what stylist Scott King did for Sabrina Carpenter by drawing an easy centre part and teasing the roots at the crown of the head before gathering a mid-rise ponytail and pulling out a few pieces to frame the face.
Take a tightly-pulled pony one step further by adding a twist to the tail, like stylist Ursula Stephen did for Jourdan Dunn.
To give a sky-high pony extra height, ditch miniscule elastics for a wide-set accessory, like stylist Gregory Russell did in this look for Chloe Grace Moretz. (May we suggest a scrunchie?)
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